Summary

Can result from playing sport or normal activities of daily living. The athletic population is at greatest risk, especially those who participate in twisting sports (commonly football and basketball).

Common complaints include catching, locking, or buckling of the knee, knee pain, or any combination of these symptoms.

MRI scan considered most accurate and non-invasive method of diagnosis. Meniscal tears are mainly either traumatic or degenerative.

Most tears do not heal spontaneously and are treated arthroscopically by meniscus repair (if torn in a clear, clean pattern) or partial meniscectomy (if torn in a complex or degenerative pattern).

Successful outcome requires close follow-up and adherence to physiotherapy.

Definition

The medial and lateral menisci are shock absorbers and force distributors located between the femur and the tibia. Consequently, menisci can tear due to traumatic injury or degenerative wear (e.g., in knee joint arthritis), and can compromise force distribution across the knee joint. A meniscal tear occurs in 2 primary planes, vertical and horizontal. Tears can cause knee pain, swelling, limited range of motion, and catching, locking, and buckling of the knee joint. Tears may lead to degenerative, arthritic changes if not already present.

[Figure caption and citation for the preceding image starts]:
Anatomical structures around the menisci
Created by BMJ Publishing Group [Citation ends].

Contributors

Disclosures

Dr Hideki Takeda would like to gratefully acknowledge Dr Lars Engebretsen and Dr Kevin R. Stone, previous contributors to this monograph. LE declares that he has no competing interests. KRS is an author of several references cited in this monograph.